Uruguay and Iran Blame Fifa for 2026 World Cup Travel Chaos

3 articles · Updated · The Independent · Jun 15

Uruguay were stranded in Cancun on the eve of their opener against Saudi Arabia after their plane lacked clearance to fly to Miami, forcing the squad to wait at their hotel until a solution was found.
Fifa said the delay stemmed from an airline permitting error in Mexico, while the Uruguayan FA blamed the governing body for setting the new departure time and the disrupted travel plan.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi also criticized Fifa after his team moved its base to Mexico because of Iran’s war with the US, with visa problems hitting delegates and fans losing match tickets.
The complaints expose wider logistical strain around the 2026 tournament, with teams and supporters facing cross-border travel, documentation and security complications before opening matches.